Nearly half of all prize competitions conducted by federal agencies in fiscal 2013 were carried out to find software solutions such as applications, data visualization tools, and predictive models and algorithms, the Office of Science and Technology Policy has said.
In its third annual report on using competitions to spur innovation and solicit ideas, OSTP said the 87 competitions held last year represented an 85 percent increase over 2012.
Many of the coding, software, and IT challenges sought to build value from open government data for both citizens and the federal government and to increase citizens’ access to private-sector applications and services that can be used to analyze their own personal data securely, according to the report. For example, a $50,000 Apps for Vehicles Challenge, offered by the Department of Energy asked developers to demonstrate how the open data available on most vehicles can be used to improve vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort – furthering DoE’s mission. New York-based Dash won the judges prize, with Michigan-based MyCarma winning the popular choice prize.
